Surah Al Kahf, which we are encouraged to recite every Friday, contains four main stories for our reflection and guidance. These are The Companions of the Cave, The Companion of the Two Gardens, Dhul Qarnain and Al Khidr.
Who was Al Khidr?
The story of Al Khidr occurred during the prophethood of Musa (AS). Musa (AS) was one of the mightiest messengers of Allah, but had a humbling experience on his lack of knowledge after his encounter with Al Khidr.
By all accounts, Al Khidr was extremely wise and pious, and was granted knowledge from the Kingdom of Allah. Some scholars speculate that he was a prophet, however, there is no conclusive evidence in the Qur’an or Sunnah on this.
The story begins with the assertion by Musa (AS) to his people that he was the most learned amongst them. As a result he was immediately reprimanded by Allah, and in fact Allah corrected him and told him that there was someone more learned.
Narrated Ubai bin Ka’b: The Prophet (SAW) said: “Once Musa (AS) stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked: “Who is the most learned man amongst the people?” He said: “I am the most learned.” Allah admonished Musa as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah).“
So Allah inspired to Musa (AS), “At the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Naturally, Musa (AS) was curious to meet such a person and said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” Allah said: “Take a fish in a large basket (and proceed) and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish.“
Musa (AS) was determined to meet this learned person, even if it involved years of travel. So he set out along with his (servant) boy and carried the fish in a basket until they reached a rock, where they lay down and took a nap. Without them being aware, the fish miraculously came back to life, jumped from the basket and took its way into the sea. When they woke up, they continued the journey without realising that the fish was gone.
Of this, the Qur’an says:
But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its way through the sea as in a tunnel. So when they had passed further on (beyond that fixed place), Musa said to his boy-servant: “Bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this, our journey.” (Al Qur’an 18:61 – 18:62)
There the (servant) boy told Musa (AS): “Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock, I indeed forgot the fish.” Musa (AS) remarked: “That is what we have been seeking.”
So the pair retraced their footsteps, until they reached the rock and found Al Khidr there. Musa (AS) greeted him and confirmed that he was Musa of Bani Israel. He then added: “May I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allah)?” (Al Qur’an 18:66)
In his wisdom, Al Khidr recognised that Musa (AS) would lack the ability to be patient, so he replied: “Verily! You will not be able to remain patient with me, O Musa! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which He has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some knowledge which Allah has taught you which I do not know.”
However, Musa (AS) was not to be deterred, so he said: “Allah willing, you will find me patient and I will not disobey you in any order.” (Al Qur’an 18:69)
Al Khidr permitted Musa (AS) to accompany him, but on one condition: that Musa (AS) was neither permitted to ask Al Khidr about anything that occurred, nor to intervene, until Al Khidr himself mentioned or explained it to Musa (AS). Musa (AS) agreed, and Al Khidr allowed Musa (AS) to travel with him.
Three Strange Incidents
One day, a ship passed them, and they requested the crew of the ship to take them on board. The crew recognised Al Khidr and gave them passage for free.
While they were in the boat, a sparrow stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak into the water a couple of times. Al Khidr said: “O Musa! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah’s knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak.” This incident is a reminder to Musa AS how insignificant the amount of knowledge we have, and no matter how much we know, our knowledge is so limited compared to Allah’s SWT. Therefore we are to humble ourselves and always seek knowledge and comprehension from Allah SWT.
Then Al Khidr did something which was shocking to Musa (AS). Before disembarking, he plucked one of the lower planks of the boat out. Musa (AS) was angered by this and asked: “Have you scuttled it in order to drown its people? Verily, you have committed a thing Imr (a Munkar – evil, bad, dreadful thing).” (Al Qur’an 18:71)
Al Khidr reminded Musa (AS): “Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with me?” Realising his mistake, Musa (AS) said: “Call me not to account for what I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my affair (with you).” (Al Qur’an 18:73)
They continued travelling until they came across a young boy. He appeared to be beautiful and handsome and was playing with other children. To Musa’s (AS) amazement, Al Khidr enticed the boy to a private area and killed him. Appalled, Musa (AS) asked: “Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a thing Nukr (a great Munkar prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!” (Al Qur’an 18:74)
Again, Al Khidr reprimanded him, saying: “Did I not tell you that you can have no patience?” (Al Qur’an 18:75) Realising that he was again in the wrong, Musa (AS) promised: “If I ask you anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me.” (Al Qur’an 18:76)
The pair continued on their way, until they came to a town where all its residents were extremely stingy. They were hungry and asked the townspeople for food, but from house to house, they were refused.
Then the two men found a wall on the verge of collapse. To Musa’s (AS) puzzlement, Al Khidr repaired the wall, even in his hungry and tired state.
Unable to contain himself any further, Musa (AS) said: “If you had wished, surely, you could have taken wages for it!” (Al Qur’an 18:77)
At this juncture, Al Khidr declared that it was time for them to part ways, for, as he had predicted, Musa (AS) was not able to be patient in his company. Musa (AS) had not kept his word to remain silent.
“This is the parting between me and you, I will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were unable to hold patience.” (Al Qur’an 18:78)
The Wisdom Behind The Actions
Before they parted, Al Khidr explained the reasons behind his actions.
The ship belonged to poor people who depended on the ship for their income. At that time, Al Khidr knew that there was a tyrant king who confiscated every working ship by force. Because the ship of the poor people was in good condition, it would also have been seized. To avoid that, Al Khidr deliberately caused damage on the ship so that it would sink and be out of view until the king had passed by.
The boy whom he killed had devout parents. However, the boy was fated to be a disbeliever and would oppress his parents in his adulthood, leading his parents into disbelief also. Therefore, Al Khidr was commanded by the Lord to change the boy for them for one superior in righteousness and nearer to His mercy.
The crumbling wall belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and beneath it lay a treasure belonging to them, which was their inheritance from their righteous father. By repairing the wall, Al Khidr helped to conceal the treasure until the time was right for it to be discovered. Allah intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from their Lord.
Al Khidr also explained that he did not take those actions of his own accord, but rather that these were orders from Allah. However, Musa (AS) was too hasty, and did not have the patience to observe silently and continue his education with Al Khidr. Of this, Muhammad (SAW) said: “May Allah be Merciful to Musa! Would that he could have been more patient to learn more about his story with Al-Khidr.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Lessons to be learnt
The Value of Knowledge
Knowledge is something that we are all strongly encouraged to seek. Knowledge in this context is not ordinary material knowledge, but knowledge that brings us closer to Allah. Such knowledge is precious, and both the act of learning and teaching are actions that are given a high status in Islam. Messengers and Prophets did not leave money, but they left behind knowledge to benefit mankind.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge.” [Muslim]
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) also said, “The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds).” He went on to say, “Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favour of those who teach people knowledge.” [At-Tirmidhi]
The Adab of Knowledge
The acquisition of knowledge has a certain adab or manner. The first protocol in Islam is to be humble and patient. When one cannot understand and comprehend, one lacks patience. We want to learn, but we want to hurry the process and skip the steps.
One should be patient, which includes being patient with the teacher and his lessons. This is our calamity today: where people do not have the patience. The above story demonstrates that in the learning process, things may be puzzling at the beginning, but instead of reacting hastily, questioning or contradicting, the student should finish the course of his studies and only then can he understand the wisdom behind the actions of the teacher.
The learned are valued by Allah, and in seeking knowledge, they should be obeyed. The respect of the person is also a means of respecting Allah for giving him (the teacher) such knowledge. This is unless the manner of the teacher is poor and contrary to the knowledge that he is spreading, which is another common phenomena in the ummah today. For such people, the knowledge will be evidence against them on the Day of Judgment.
Musa (AS) approached Al Khidr for him to teach by making a humble and polite request. The strict hierarchy between teacher and student was recognized, even if Musa (AS) was one of the mightiest Prophets and Messengers. There is no room for arrogance on the part of the student who genuinely seeks knowledge.
Knowledge is always obtained by obedience. This is a fundamental teaching in Islam, and the exception is if the teacher commands the student to do something evil or contrary to Islam. Again, it is the calamity of the ummah today. Even in mainstream schools, the student now dictates and the teacher obeys, and this accounts for the declining quality of education.
Musa’s (AS) disobedience led to his teacher refusing to continue the lessons. Musa (AS) did not have the required qualities of being a good student, even though he was one of the mightiest Messengers.
What about us today? We claim to seek knowledge, but we go against the advice of our teachers and simply do whatever we feel like doing.
The Depth of Knowledge
Knowledge comes with comprehension and understanding, which has multiple layers. According to Allah’s opening to a person, the knowledge may be the same, but the comprehension and understanding can have different layers and depths. Musa (AS) failed to comprehend this point.
The message of Allah SWT to all of us is that what we see with our eyes and what we think we know, is not true or absolute. Beyond each level of knowledge is another level, and beyond that is another and so on. The message from Allah is that we should not be arrogant and believe that we understand any knowledge comprehensively. Maybe someone else understands the same knowledge but in a much deeper way.
May Allah make us all honoured students or teachers of His divine knowledge, amen.
